Tag: europe

Affordable Monaco Travel Tips

by Saunter

”too expensive for me”. ”where would i stay if its £400 a night everywhere”. ”Im not the type of person that should be there”.

Everyone has the right to visit Monaco.

We all know that Monaco is famous for its hotels, yachts, and extremely high standards of living. Do not let this discourage you from visiting.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Where should i stay?

Monaco, on its own, is not some super entity inaccessible to the average visitor.

Stay in Nice, the south of France. We stayed there for 3 nights at £100 per night between 2. The Old Town is gorgeous, and the French food is abundant as you wind through the Mediterranean streets.

If you really want to stay in Monaco, be my guest. but..

Nice has tons to offer, that’s a conversation for another post. Back to Monaco.

Getting To Monaco

Step 1: Stop at the local cafe and get yourself an essential pack for the train ride.

All you need to do is get the train from Nice Ville to Monte Carlo. The train is €10.. £8.. $9… You’re under budget, and you’ve set yourself up to visit one of the most sought-after places on earth.

That’s £20 spent..

What do i do in 24 hours?

If you’re a solo traveler or/and on a budget. Don’t panic. Don’t be put off by the towering Balenciaga shops or endless Lamborghini lining the streets.

You get off the train at Monte Carlo. You have Monte Carlo town to your left up the hill. Monaco town is to your right.

Turn left and head up the hill into Monte Carlo.

First, we went for lunch. It was extremely affordable, and the food was top-notch. The salmon/pasta was €15, and the wine was €4.

You’re €45 in and have already had lunch and seen half of Monaco.

Maya Mia, Boulevard Princess Charlotte

The Sights

While you’re up in Monte Carlo. Check out the Hotel De Paris. One of the most famous in the world and for good reason. To your left, if you have your passport and you fancy it. The world famous casino.

You need your passport for this. Unfortunately i didn’t have mine. Who knows, I may have ended up joining all the high-end folks on their multi-million dollar yachts.

Back to reality..

On the way down the hill from Monte Carlo. You’ll snake down the dock where all the yachts are, and the views are incredible. There are bars all across the dock. It’s all pedestrian-friendly. There’s no need for a car in Monaco whatsoever.

You’ll pass the train station and head up the hill to Monaco city (aka old town). You’ll walk through the old town gardens. We stumbled across these public toilets. Only in Monaco would public toilets look better than my house at home.

The walk to the Old Town

As you approach the old town, you’ll come across another dock. The views are spectacular. It will cost you $0 to sit down, have a chat, and drink some water. Monaco is no joke and really lives up to its reputation.

The old town is situated next to the castle on the hill. Be sure to look down every winding street at the cafes and restaurants. The place is teeming with life and Easter eggs. It’s really like those car adverts.

The Gallery

Here’s the rest of the photos from Monaco, there’s nothing left to say but let the photos do the talking.

Budget-Friendly Travel: Swap the dining for supermarkets in Europe and Asia

by Saunter

Not a title you see very often, though, you’ll know that there isn’t a truer sentence out there. Or you’re about to find out. No matter what country you’re in, their national store is a hub to keep you going day by day.

Every country has a unique set of laws. Opening times, alcohol licensing and the contents of what the store sells. Subconsciously, we all have our favourite in which we seem to levitate. Let’s call it a leader board, because that’s exactly what it is.

If you’re backpacking on a budget, they can be a lifesaver. Being on the road for a long period. It’s not ideal to eat out at restaurants every night.

Take 7\11. They’re all over the world. But in Thailand? They’re elite

7/11 is open all night in Thailand. It’s 8 pm. You’re hungry but don’t fancy adding a big meal to your expenses for the day. You also want something healthy. Balance is essential, of course.

The toasties of Thailand. Warmed behind the counter in less than 5 minutes. While they may not be the healthiest, they are divine. Pair this with a Banana, or any fruit for that matter. Bottle of water too. You’re winning. Take it where you want, sit on the curb and watch the world go by. With some good company, that’s a cheap and memorable night.

That’s under £3. or $4 for the night. Fancy adding noodles? Well, the price just went up by about 0.40 pence or 0.60 cents for the night. Compound this maybe 2-3 times a week. You’re onto a money saver.

Who am I kidding? Southeast Asia is cheap, even to eat out at restaurants.

The real money saver is when you start doing this in Europe. Especially when it comes to Paris, London, Barcelona and so on.

Maldita Dulzura Cafe. Valencia.
AKA best sandwich ever.

Europeans will be Europeans. Early closures, opening stores at their own convenience. The customer is, in fact, not king there.

It’s part of European culture, especially in Spain, to close during the day. Life is a balance (sorry Americans).

You’ve always got to keep your eye on the opening times. Most of the time a shop will be open most of the evening.

The food quality here, especially in the markets? formidable.

Take your average dinner experience in Europe. You go to a lovely restaurant in Madrid Central. You’re backpacking. a week in. a month in. You take a look at the bill and it’s €40 each. You think, my word, i will not survive long doing this every night.

On holiday, sure. Backpacking for 2-3 months? no.

If you have the financial means to do so, congratulations.

After digesting the shock of restaurant prices in big cities in Europe. It’s time to turn to the supermarkets for 2-3 nights a week.

This is where Carrefour comes in. The mighty hypermarket across Europe (Not the UK).

Same routine as 7/11. One night, we had a hotel, a kitchen, and an empty stomach. Most hostels have them too.

Let’s cook paella, we thought. Make the most of the amenities around you when you have them. I won’t list all the ingredients here. You want to know the price, not cook with me episode 1.

After swooping around Carrefour for a while. We spent a grand total of €14 between 2 people compared to €45 each. It was huge, and we had a portion for the next day.

If you don’t have a kitchen in an Airbnb or Hostel. Or simply can’t be bothered. Just simply find less hassle meals that are equally nice.

Truth, eating out every night becomes stale after a while. Mix it up. Keep it healthy. Try local foods and expand your knowledge to take home. There is a wealth of foods around Europe for everyone’s taste.

You will save an absolute fortune, and it will compound fast if you do it frequently. You’re now equally as full and get to enjoy more experiences with your saved cash.